8K TVs are here, and they're totally pointless

Every now and then, TV manufacturers start a new trend to keep the hype for their products going. If you bought a TV in the last year, a salesman probably told you that some iteration of HDR is a must-have. Your current TV likely supports 3D — and I bet you haven't used that feature in ages. 

The hot new thing at this year's IFA, Berlin's trade show which gathers the largest consumer electronics manufacturers, was 8K TVs. I've seen those TVs, and I can tell you, they all had an absolutely stunning picture.

I can also tell you that you absolutely don't need one. 

SEE ALSO: Samsung's massive 8K QLED TV will hit stores in October Read more...

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Our favorite rumor is dead: Google confirms no Pixel watch release this year

Sorry, folks! 

Google is not releasing a smartwatch this year.

The company confirmed on Friday in an interview with Tom's Guide that it has no plans to release it's own-branded smartwatch in 2018.

Tech news sites have been in a frenzy over the past few months over what many believed was proof that the company planned to launch its own competitor to the Apple Watch. The product was expected to be named the Google "Pixel" watch and sold as a compliment to the existing Pixel phone — but now that dream is dead.

The idea was that the Pixel watch would used to showcase the best of the company's WearOS software, similar to the way existing Pixel phones show off the best features of Android. Google currently relies on hardware makers like Fossil, Michael Kors, and Tag Heuer to make the physical watches. Read more...

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Slide-out cameras are the next big thing for smartphones

Apple and seemingly every Android phone maker under the sun want us to embrace the smartphone notch, but things don't have to be this way.

There is a realistic path toward a phone with a true all-screen display without any ugly cutouts: cameras that slide up when you need them and retract when you don't.

SEE ALSO: The Xperia XZ3 is Sony's nicest phone in years, but it may not be enough

If there's any one thing that science fiction movies have taught me, it's that pocket communicators (or phones as we call them) have only one final form: They're just a screen. They should have no bezels at all. Read more...

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Save up to $650 during HP's Labor Day sale

Have you been dying to outfit your home office with a brand new desktop? Biting your nails, waiting for the moment your ancient laptop finally gives up the ghost?

Don’t let this situation get to death-rattle territory. Friends, it’s time to upgrade — and HP has you covered. From Labor Day through mid-September, the company is offering discounts on over 20 different laptops and desktops, with free shipping and returns, plus price matching.

The biggest deal of the bunch is on the 15t Touch, which is discounted to $559.99 through September 12 — at a savings of a whopping $680. (Think about it: you are literally saving more than you’re spending.) This laptop has a 7th Generation Intel Core i7 processor with 8GB memory, and it’s not holding out in the looks department. The sleek design, with its black matte finish, basically announces, “I woke up like this.”  Read more...

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Mattel Alpha Training Blue review: a cute lil' robot raptor you can train

Alpha Training Blue

$249.99

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The Good

Heavy • durable plastic • Looks exactly like the dinosaur from the movie • Total Control Mode lets you control the dino like a puppet

The Bad

Indoor only • Charging port hidden by screwed-on panel • Controller settings aren't as intuitive as we'd like

The Bottom Line

Mattel's Alpha Training Blue is a sure bet for anyone who loved the movie. Surprisingly expressive and fun to play with for hours.

Mashable Score4.0

Cool Factor5.0

Learning Curve3.0

Performance4.0

Bang for the Buck4.0

Mattel's newest Jurassic World toy, "Alpha Training Blue," is an adorable, controllable, cheeky little robotic velociraptor that comes with dozens of animations and game modes. Mattel lets users take full control so that they can basically use the toy like a futuristic puppet, or, in our favorite mode, train the raptor to respond to different controller motions. Read more...

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PocketSprite Is the Tiny Game Boy You Dreamed of

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The 50 best iPhone games, ever

Even if you're a dedicated console or PC gamer, chances are you've downloaded a mobile game to stay entertained while on the go.

Mobile gaming has come a long way since the days of Snake on a Nokia phone. Apple's App Store had more than 350,000 games to choose from as of Q1 2018, according to Statista. But which ones are the best?

We asked the PCMag staff for their favorite iPhone games of all time. The list includes both free and paid titles, and each one remains in the App Store, ready to download. Try a few you've never played before, and leave your suggestions in the comments. Read more...

50Alto's Adventure

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The Xperia XZ3 is Sony's nicest phone in years, but it may not be enough

Every Android phone maker at IFA 2018 seems to be shamelessly copying the iPhone X. Every company except Sony.

Rather than look to Apple for inspiration for its latest Xperia XZ3 Android phone, the beleaguered phone maker has instead decided to mimic features Samsung pioneered on its Galaxy smartphones.

SEE ALSO: Google's revamped Android One program picks up where the Nexus left off

Sony's new Xperia XZ3 comes a mere six months after it announced the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact at Mobile World Congress earlier this year.

Back in February, I said the phones were an improvement for Sony (the fingerprint reader was finally activated again on U.S. models), but ultimately still lagged behind the competition as they moved towards shrinking the bezels around the display. Read more...

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Best 4K TV deals for Labor Day weekend: Save on Sony, Samsung, LG, Sharp, Philips, and more

Labor Day weekend is here, so now is a good time to grab that new 4K TV you've had your eye on. We gathered the best deals on 4K televisions from top retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and the Samsung Store. No matter how big or small, we found a good deal on a 4K TV for you. 

There are deep discounts on great TVs like Samsung's 40-inch Class 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV, which is on sale for the low price of $349.99, while LG Electronics's 55-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV is going for just $499.99.

SEE ALSO: Labor Day sales 2018: Shop the best deals for Macy's, Amazon devices, Casper mattresses, Dell laptops, J.Crew, Target, and more Read more...

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This incredible NordVPN deal expires Sept. 3

Time is running out fast on a three-year deal to NordVPN. In fact, time is in such short supply that you should probably skim this information and jump right to the good stuff. 

SEE ALSO: The 6 best VPNs to help keep you anonymous on the internet

NordVPN has proven itself to be one of the top services for securing your online activities. The company also now has more than 4,800 servers across the globe, making it one of the largest as well. 

NordVPN provides a wide variety of servers, including unique secure servers, and more than 1,000 servers in diverse locations worldwide. 

The one real drawback has often been the high price. However, you can secure NordVPN for the next three years for just over £2.00 a month with their exclusive deal. This represents a 77% saving on the list price and equates to a saving of over £300.00 over the three years of the deal. Read more...

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Best laptop and tablet deals for Labor Day weekend: Dell, HP, Apple, Samsung, and more

Labor Day weekend is here, which means the school year is back and work is about to get way more serious heading into Q4. It also means another weekend of sales so you can get your shit together before summer is totally over.

SEE ALSO: Labor Day sales 2018: Shop Macy's, Amazon devices, Casper mattresses, Dell laptops, J.Crew, Target, and more

Walmart and Amazon are offering deals on dozens of laptops and tablets that will make school and work life that much easier. If you're looking for a high-performance 2-in-1, Amazon has several Microsoft Surfaces on sale, from the Surface Laptop to the Surface Pro 4. On the other end, Walmart has several affordable laptops to choose from, whether it's an Acer Chromebook or an HP Notebook. Read more...

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Jet packs may still be a thing of the future, but the story of their past is fascinating

In the 1950s, Bell Aerosystems, the company behind the first supersonic aircraft, began developing a rocket pack for the U.S. Army. Read more...

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Lenovo's new Yoga Book is fun, but don't think of it as a laptop

Lenovo has brought a new version of its Yoga Book laptop/tablet/e-reader hybrid to the IFA technology conference in Berlin, and I now realize I've been looking at it all wrong. As a laptop, it's not great: I don't think I could type on its E Ink-based keyboard without throwing the laptop out the window in frustration. 

But as a tablet/e-reader hybrid, it might actually be good — if you can swallow the price. 

SEE ALSO: Lenovo has launched a flash sale on ThinkPads right up until midnight

The Yoga Book C930 is an improvement over its predecessor in every way, but it's conceptually the same thing: A laptop which has an E Ink screen instead of a keyboard.  Read more...

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IFA 2018: The best and weirdest gadgets from Europe's biggest tech conference

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WeMo Mini review: a world of flexibility in a tiny plug

WeMo Mini

$34.99

View Product

The Good

Support for many smart home platforms • Slim design that doesn't block other outlets • Affordable price point

The Bad

WeMo app gets in the weeds • No energy monitoring

The Bottom Line

The WeMo Mini doesn't impress with the standalone app, but a slim design and a large compatibility list for smart home platforms makes it a winner.

Mashable Score3.5

Cool Factor3.0

Learning Curve3.0

Performance4.0

Bang for the Buck4.0

The smart home realm of 2018 is a confusing world for a consumer. But Belkin WeMo is here with an outlet that works with many ecosystems, and we'll take all the help we can get. Read more...

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Improve your public speaking skills with this online voice training course

Communication is key. When you are meeting someone for the first time, or meeting someone in a professional environment, perhaps in an interview, the way you communicate is absolutely vital. 

Maybe you have difficulties in communicating with people. Maybe you feel that your voice doesn’t cut through the conversation, even when you have something cool and interesting to contribute. You'd probably love to have that rich, full, clear voice that people can't help but listen to. Right?

SEE ALSO: 11 of the best Bluetooth speakers, featuring options by Sony, Bose, JBL, and Ultimate Ears

Maybe you create videos or podcasts, or need to do public speaking engagements, but your voice lets you down and kills your confidence. Read more...

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This AR experience lets you interrogate hologram travelers like a customs officer

The interactive AR documentary Terminal 3 turns viewers into customs officers at an airport terminal, where they interrogate the holograms of people who appear to be Muslim to decide whether they will let them into the country. The augmented reality experience was directed by artist Asad J. Malik in partnership with the immersive studio RYOT.  Read more...

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Best deals for Friday: Save on Apple MacBook Air, iPad Mini, Casper mattresses, Roku, and more

With the Labor Day weekend upon us, we're rounding up the best deals on computers, kitchen gear, Amazon devices, and more. Spend your three-day weekend saving on fantastic products for your home.

SEE ALSO: 7 of the best free antivirus software options

There are a number of sales on Apple products, which almost never happens, such as on the Apple MacBook Air, iPad Mini, and iMac (certified refurbished). Now is your chance to save on Apple products this weekend. If Mac isn't your thing, there are also deals on great laptops that run Windows 10, such as the Dell XPS 13 and ASUS ZenBook Pro.

For the kitchen, KitchenAid's Classic Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer and Compact Oven are on sale for $199.99 and $99.99, respectivelyZojirushi's Micom Rice Cooker is priced at just $119.96, while the classic George Foreman Electric Grill and Panini Press is going for only $19.99. Read more...

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